Portage man injured by explosion while making homemade fireworks in his kitchen

PORTAGE, MI — A 50-year-old Portage man was injured in an explosion Tuesday night while trying to make homemade fireworks in his home, authorities say.

Portage Public Safety officers were called around 10:17 p.m. to a home on Fairfield Road just off of Portage Road on a report of a man suffering from burn wounds, according to Battalion Chief Rick Palmer. Officers then received a separate 911 call four minutes later stating that a fire had started inside the home next door.

"They said there was a huge explosion," Palmer said. "But I'm not sure who called it in, if it was the guy himself or neighbors, because he was next door when we arrived."

Palmer said he was told the man was attempting to use raw explosives to make fireworks in his kitchen when the explosion occurred.

Windows were blown out on the home and it appeared the garage had also sustained damage, although Palmer said the home was not a loss.

Palmer said he could not speak to the extent of the man's injuries since he did not make contact with him before he was taken to the hospital.

Alex Mitchell covers county government and taxes for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Email him at amitche5@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.